GA-MINING-CONGRESS (BES4)

Panaji, May 11 (PTI) The Congress party in Goa today accused the BJP-led state government of not doing anything to restart the mining operations in the state, which have come to a halt from March 16.

In February this year, the Supreme Court had quashed the second renewal of iron ore mining leases given to 88 companies in Goa in 2015. The court had given time till March 15 to mining lease holders to manage their affairs.

"Over three months have passed (since the SC order) and the government has not taken any action to restart mining in the state. This reflects the state of administration and policy of the government," spokesperson of Goa Congress Yatish Naik told reporters.

"After the February 7 judgement, which ensured the closure of mining activities from March 15, the government has no idea what action it should take," he added.

"While some people in the government are talking about auction, some others are talking about filing a review petition in the SC.

"Some are talking about forming a corporation, while others are talking about an ordinance in the Parliament to start mining. But basically no action has been taken in the last three months to restart mining operation," Naik said.

He said the period to file a review petition on the judgement was only 30 days, which has already lapsed and the government has been groping in the dark on the issue.

According to Naik, the Congress is willing to cooperate with the government to find out a solution to the crisis.

"In view of the SC judgement and considering the law, we are willing to cooperate. But the government is doing nothing except talking," he said.

"It is very clear that the BJP government in Goa is suffering from paralysis (of administration) and they are unable to govern and they dont know how to take decisions and what is to be done," he alleged.

On the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar from the state, Naik said, "This is a headless state with an unsanctified entity like Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC) and Goans are made to suffer, no administration and nothing being done in the interest of the state."

Parrikar had appointed a three-member CAC before leaving for the US on 8 March for medical treatment. PTI RPS NP NP NP RDS RDS RDS

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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